RAFTER FIXING REQUIREMENTS IN NZS 3604:2011

BUILD
RIGHT Rafter fixings
PITCHED ROOFS CONSTRUCTED WITH TIMBER RAFTERS ARE DESCRIBED
IN NZS 3604:2011 TIMBER-FRAMED BUILDINGS AS EITHER COUPLE-CLOSE
OR SKILLION ROOFS. WHAT ARE THE RAFTER FIXING REQUIREMENTS?

BY JOHN WIERENGA,
ASCAPE DESIGN LTD,
WELLINGTON

FINDING FIXING REQUIREMENTS for rafters in Table 1

couple-close roof construction is fairly straight-
forward in NZS 3604:2011 Section 10 Roof
NZS 3604:2011 FIXING TYPES
framing.
However, finding the requirements for rafter FIXING TYPE DESCRIPTION ALTERNATIVE FIXING CAPACITY
fixings in skillion roofs, or for hip and valley
rafters, is a little more circuitous. Type E 2/90 × 3.15 mm skew nails + 2 wire dogs 4.7 kN
Figures 1–5 show the fixing requirements for
Type F 2/90 × 3.15 mm skew nails + 2 strap fixings 7.0 kN
the various roof framing elements.

From NZS 3604:2011

(a) Rafter to ridge board
When considering the fixings required (see Table
1), NZS 3604:2011 uses: ridge board
●● fixing types E (or 4.7 kN equivalent) and F (or

7 kN equivalent) depending on the span and rafter

size of rafters (rafter spans may be increased
by 10% where continuous over two or more
spans)
●● a default wind zone of extra high (EH) – a note

within NZS 3604:2011 Table 10.1 indicates that

No connections are given in NZS 3604:2011, use:
rafter span lengths may be adjusted for other • 4/75 × 3.15 mm skew nails or
wind zones by multiplying factors of 1.3 for • 2/100 × 3.75 mm end nails
low and medium and 1.1 for high and very high
(b) Rafter to top plate
wind zones.

Important connections
Connections that need to be considered are rafter rafter
(or jack rafter) to:
●● ridge board for a couple-close roof (Figure 1a)

●● top plate for a couple-close roof (Figure 1b)

●● top plate for a skillion roof (Figures 2 and 3) ceiling joist

●● ridge beam for a skillion roof (Figure 4).
top plate
Figure 5 covers the connection of the hip
Type E: 2/90 × 3.15 mm skew nails + 2 wire dogs
rafter to the top plate where the hip rafters
or 4.7 kN connectors
brace the roof. Type F: 2/90 × 3.15 mm skew nails + 2 strap
fixings or 7.0 kN connectors
(Fixings from NZS 3604:2011, Table 10.1)

Figure 1 Couple-close roof.

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26 — Build 141 — April/May 2014
 rafter

ceiling lining fixed to underside of rafter

double top plate

blocking supporting edge of

ceiling lining

7.0 kN fixing capacity: fixing straps to each side of rafter with:

• 4/30 × 3.15 mm nails to side of both top plates
• 4/30 × 3.15 mm nails fixing strap to rafter

Figure 2 Rafter to double top plate fixing – skillion roof.

rafter

single top plate

ceiling lining fixed to underside of rafter

blocking supporting edge of ceiling lining

7.0 kN fixing capacity: fixing straps to each side of rafter with:

• 2/30 × 3.15 mm nails to both side and bottom of top plate (4 total)
• 4/30 × 3.15 mm nails fixing strap to rafter

Figure 3 Rafter to single top plate fixing – skillion roof.

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Build 141 — April/May 2014 — 27
25 × 1 mm strap with 6/30 × 2.5 mm nails into ridge beam
rafter
each rafter when rafters support ceiling lining
(6 kN connection)

fix each rafter to beam with 4/75 × 3.15 mm skew nails

32 mm rafter bearing on beam plus fixings from NZS 3604:2011 Table 10.1 or 10.15 to
each rafter (type E or type F fixings) 

Option A

ridge beam
25 × 1 mm strap with 6/30 × 2.5 mm nails into
each rafter when rafters support ceiling lining rafter

fix each rafter to beam with 4/75 × 3.15 mm skew nails

plus fixings from NZS 3604:2011 Table 10.1 or 10.15 to
15 mm deep housing each rafter (type E or type F fixings)

Option B

Figure 4 Rafter to ridge beam – skillion roof.

common rafter ridge board

7 kN type F connection: 2/90 × 3.15 mm skew

nails plus strap fixing for rafters to ridge board
hip rafter used as bracing member

common rafter
common rafter

(a) Rafter to ridge board hip rafter used as bracing member

jack rafter

jack rafter 7 kN connection: fixing straps to each side of hip

rafter with:
• 4/30 × 3.15 mm nails to both sides of top
plate (as per alternatives for
single and double top plates)
• 4/30 × 3.15 mm nails fixing strap to rafter
hip rafter used as bracing member

(b) Rafter to top plate

top plate

Figure 5 Hip rafter as bracing member.

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28 — Build 141 — April/May 2014